City officials met on Monday to discuss again a proposed drainage project in Russellville.

Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spoke with Mayor Bill Eaton, aldermen, Public Works Director Michael Oakes, Finance Director Jerry McKaughan, City Attorney Trey Smith and Russellville engineer Kurt Jones. They discussed a proposed joint drainage project that would include improvements to Prairie Creek and Engineers Ditch, as well as the construction of a detention basin near Weir Road. Improvements would be made from the basin west to the culmination of Prairie Creek and include widening the channels.

The city can do the entire $15 million project, with an estimated contribution of more than $8 million, or it could choose to do a portion of the project or take no action at all.

“We need to hear from the city,” Dana Coburn, project lead for the Corps, said. “We need to know what your choice is.”

The Corps proposal, as submitted, is estimated to significantly reduce flood-related damages in the city. For a five-year storm event, current damage estimates are at $3 million. The improvements would create more than $2 million in improvements for such an event, reducing damages to $680,000.

Corps officials noted the project would not eliminate flooding in the city.

Aldermen discussed whether the city might benefit from completing only the portion of the drainage project that would have the most significant benefits for the flood-prone downtown area near the City Mall.